ELMORE RAILWAY STATION AND WATER TOWER

61 RAILWAY PLACE ELMORE, Greater Bendigo City

Victorian Heritage Register

Statement of Significance

Last updated on - May 2, 2000

What is significant?
Elmore Railway Station and Water Tower were constructed in 1870 by P Cunningham for the Victorian Railways on the Melbourne-Echuca Line. It comprises a single storey Italianate railway Station building and residence with slate-hipped roof and cast iron gutters. The brickwork is relieved by stuccoed window and door dressings and quoins. A brick lamp room/ toilet block adjoins. The square, 20,000-gallon water tower is supported on a trabeated brick base with round base openings. The station currently serves goods trains only, while operating as a local museum.

How is it significant?
Elmore Railway Station and Water Tower are historically and architecturally significant to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
Elmore Railway Station and Water Tower are historically significant for their association with the development of the 'light lines' era, c1869 - c1884. The water tower is historically significant as a reminder of the pre-eminence of the steam era. The tower is a substantially intact example of a railway water tower constructed during the late 19th century to facilitate the operation of the steam engines.

Elmore Railway Station is architecturally significant as an important and intact example of the 'Castlemaine' style of railway stations. The 'Castlemaine' style features architectural devices characteristic of the Italianate school, such as heavy rusticated quoining, eaves corbelling, and low hipped roofs. Built shortly after the opening of the line, it serves as an important contributor to the character of the line and was a precursor for the 'Creswick' and 'Avoca' station groups. The use of timber to the verandahs was also a unique feature. The station buildings are enhanced by the water tower.

Place ID

Location

Municipality

Heritage Listing

Victorian Heritage Register

Level of significance

Registered

Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number

H1672

Heritage Overlay Numbers

HO418

Extent of Registration

1. All of the buildings known as the Elmore Railway Station and Water Tower, including the station building (B1), the lamp room/ toilet block (B2), ladies' toilet (B3), and water tower (B4), as marked on plan 601763 held by the Executive Director.
2. All of the land surrounding the buildings marked L1 on plan 601763 held by the Executive Director, being part of land described in Certificate of Title-Volume 9978, Folio 313.

Year Construction Started

VHR Registration

Amendment to Registration

Architect

Heritage Act Categories

Category

ELMORE RAILWAY STATION AND WATER TOWER - History

Elmore Railway Station and Water Tower are historically significant for their association with the development of the 'light lines' era, c.1869 - c.1884. Following lavish expenditure of the earlier 'main trunk' lines of the 1850' and 1860's, a determined effort was made to minimise the cost of railway construction. The 'light lines' era was characterised by more restrained station building designs (Harrigan, 1962). The water tower is historically significant as a reminder of the pre-eminence of the steam era. The tower is a substantially intact example of a railway water tower constructed during the late 19th century to facilitate the operation of the steam engines.
(Beeston, 1995)

ELMORE RAILWAY STATION AND WATER TOWER - Permit Exemptions

General Conditions
1. All alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner that prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object.
2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of alterations that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such alteration shall cease and the Executive Director shall be notified as soon as possible.
3. If there is a conservation policy and plan approved by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it.
4. Nothing in this declaration prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.
5. Nothing in this declaration exempts the owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authority where applicable.

* All basic refurbishment works including repairs to buildings and structures, where works are documented and administered by a recognised conservation consultant
* Installation of perimeter fencing
* Installation of new signalling systems and modifications to existing signalling systems
* Modification and replacement of tracks to the extent of the rails, sleepers and ballast
* Installation of new landscaping features but excluding earthworks where more than 1m3 of ground is to be altered

Station Buildings/Water Tower
Exterior
*Replacement of decayed fabric with fabric that matches the original design and profile.
* Installation of new but not removal of existing original significant signage.
* Installation of temporary protective hoardings, screens and the like for the protection against intrusion of vandals and the like provided that no damage is sustained to significant fabric.
* Installation of new damp proofing and making good to match existing, adjacent surfaces.

Interior
* Interior painting but not stripping of existing paint scheme
* Installation of new but not removal of existing original significant carpets/flexible floor coverings
* Installation of new but not removal of existing original significant fixtures and fittings, including clocks, soft furnishings including curtain tracks, rods, blinds and other window dressings, and the like.
* Installation of new but not the removal of existing original significant signage
* Installation of new partitions provided that no damage is sustained to significant fabric
* Replacement of non-original kitchen and toilet fixtures provided that no damage is sustained to significant fabric
* Installation of insulation to ceiling spaces
* Installation of hooks, nails and other devices for the hanging of paintings, mirrors and other wall mounted works of art.

ELMORE RAILWAY STATION AND WATER TOWER - Permit Exemption Policy

The purpose of the permit exemptions is to allow works that do not impact on the significance of the place to occur without the need for a permit. The Elmore Railway Station and Water Tower is important for its individual buildings as well as its precinct values. The exterior of the buildings are of prime importance. The interior is important if original fittings and fixtures still survive. Track works and maintenance to the buildings are able to be undertaken without a permit.